Bespoke training courses improve environmental performance

SMEs in the engineering, automotive and manufacturing sectors faced with their single most important challenge, the increasing need to demonstrate their commitment to environmental management within their organisations, can address these issues by using specialist training courses.

One such provider is Midlands-based EETT (Environmental Education and Training Trust), of Tamworth, which points out that equally within the retail sector, good environmental practice and waste minimisation can make a substantial contribution to operating profits.
EETT says that its training programmes - at no cost to participating companies - equip management and employees with the skills and knowledge to implement an Environmental Management system to ISO 14001 standard, together with a Waste Minimisation and Waste Management system.
Tracey L Kelsall-Brown, EETT Managing Director, whose parent company GRM has been delivering training programmes for 10 years, said: "With the growing 'environmental' and 'best practices' pressure being increasingly exerted on engineering, automotive and manufacturing businesses, no longer can companies adopt an ostrich-attitude. The ISO14001 and ISO9000 environmental and quality standards are a fact of life. But inevitably, many companies do not know where to start in establishing and implementing such quality and management standards.
"These are areas where EETT can provide the assistance which companies need to overcome the problem. We provide a unique six-day training programme, which is supported by the European Social Fund and Learning Skills Council, providing each delegate with the requisite skills and knowledge to implement an Environmental Management system for their own company. Additionally we are able to offer each participating delegate 32 hours of on-line consultancy, to assist in the implementation of the systems and to tailor them to each company."
She added that the courses are fully supported by European and Learning & Skills Council Funding for staff members of eligible organisations, although there are projects where a company can make a financial contribution if they choose not to carry out the workplace project work.